Folding bed



Aug. 29, 1944. F. F. WAHL 2,357,242

FOLDING BED Fi led Aug. 26, 1942 3 SheetsSheet l 5am? fih ai/ IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 29, 1944. F, F, WAHL 2,357,242

FOLDING'BED Filed Afig.'26, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet v A'rruRNzYs Aug. 29, 1944. w 2,357,242

. FOLDING BED Filed Aug. 26, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BED Frank F. Wahl, Monroe, Mich. Application August 26, 1942, Serial No. 456,249 3 Claims. 101. 566) Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the'spring structure;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail View of a spring roller track;

Figure 8 is a view of a bed rail joint;

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line 9-8 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view showing the joint partly opened; I I

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a tray; and Figure 12 is a perspective view of a modified spring.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the bed includes a head end .10 and a, foot end I2. Two side rails I4 interconnect the end structures I 0 and I2. Each side rail I4 comprises two sections I6 and I8, with the sections I6 and I8 respectively interconnected by cross angle adjacent the head and foot structures I0 and I2. Both head and foot structures are provided with flanges 22 to which the sections I6 and I8 are pivotally connected, as at 24.

To the sections I6 and 18 are pivotally connected brace rods 26 slidable in sleeves 28 pivotally connected with flanges 30 on the head and foot structures I0 and I2. While the rods 26 are 'slidable in the sleeves 28, these parts may. be fixedly connected by means of set-screws 32,

see Figure 1.

Spring sections 34, 36, 38 and 40 are supported on the side rails M. The spring section 36 is pivotally connected at 42 with the rails I4 and this section is pivotally connected at 44 with the section 34 and at 46with the section 38, the latter being pivotally connected at 48 with the section 40.

The sections I6 constitute angles throughout 3'8 intermediate its ends and also ride on the flanges l9. These rollers are held in assembled relationship with the sections I8 by reason of flanges 54 welded to the sections I8, to provide a relatively narrow channelas illustrated in Figure '7. The flanges I9, below and parallel with the flanges 54 have portions of increased width to provide supports for the foot spring section 40 when the latter is in horizontal aligned position as shown to advantage at Figures 3 and '7. Thus the sprin structure may be 'adjusted to a horizontal plane, as in Figure 2, or pivoted to the chair contour of Figures 1 and 3. Since the section 36 only is pivotally connected with the rails I4, pivotal movement of this section to the position of Figure 3 pivots the sections 38 and 40 to the positions shown. The section 35 may be latched in different angular positions through the medium of spring-pressed latches 56 having pins 58 extending loosely through openings in the sections I6 and arranged for selective insertion in openings 60 in flanges 62 fixed to the section 36. When the spring structure is leveled in its'horizontal plane, the sections are secured against relative pivotal movement by means of setscrews 64 which, as

shown in Fig. 2, are threaded through the rail' sections I6 to pass through openings 66 in the spring section 34. After the setscrews 64 are withdrawn, and the sprin sections adjusted to inclined positions, the setscrews may be inserted for safe keeping into the openings 66 of the spring section 34, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The pivots 24 are located closely to the upper edges of the sections I6 and I8 so that the two sections may be pivoted upwardly and against the respective head and foot structures I0 and I2. When the sections l6 and I8 are pivoted to the horizontal, further relative pivotal movement is restrained by reason of channel members 68 welded to the sections I6 and arranged to abrase the upper edge margins of the sections I8, with the sections I6 and I8 fitting in close end to end relationship. The channel members 68 have flanges I0 pivotally connected at I2 with plates I4 welded to the sections I8. The pivot I2 are so located that the sections l6 and I8 may be folded into parallel relationship and in parallelism with the head and-foot structures Ill and I2, as in Figure 4.

When folding the bed in this manner, the setscrews 32 are loosened to permit the rods 26 to slide in the sleeves 28. Transverse brace members I6 are welded to and interconnect the respective sections I6 and [8. Cross braces I8 are also provided for the spring sections 34. l! and 38. These braces are bent downwardly to provide ample clearance for the flexible bed spring 80. With the spring section 36 latched in its horizontal position through the medium of the latch devices 56, the spring section 34 may upon the removal of the set'screws 84, be pivoted upwardly and held in an elevated position by suitable supporting means.

Figure 11 illustrates a tray 80' having a right angular plate 82 pivotally connected at '84 with one of the rail sections it. Normally the tray 80 lies in the full line position, but the tray may be pivoted to the dotted line position and supported thereby through engagement between the plate 82 and the rail section.

Figure 12 illustrates a spring section ll corresponding to the spring section 34. This spring section is provided with a U-shaped prop 88 having its ends pivbtally connected at 80 with the spring section 86 and selectively receivable in notches 92 in flanges 94 welded to the rail sections 96 corresponding to the rail sections Ii. Thus the spring section 86 may be supported in diilferent angular positions.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions'of service.

I claim:

1. In a bed having side rails, a spring comprising first, second and third sections pivotally connected together, said third section being located near the foot of the bed, upper and lower flanges on the rails, meanspivoting said first section to the rails, rollers journaled on the foot end of said third section and on the sides of said second section between its ends and mounted between the flanges, said sections being adapted for adjustment into aligned or into angular relation, and means for latching said first section to the rails for securing the sections in selected arrangement.

2. In a bed having side rails, said rails being provided with parallel flanges disposed to form a channel at the foot end of each rail, a head spring section having its intermediate side portions pivotally connected to the head ends of the rails for vertical swinging adjustment, 9. center spring section pivotally connected to the head section, a pair of laterally disposed rollers at the opposed sides of the center section intermediate its ends, said rollers rotatably engaging the channels in the rails, a foot spring section pivotally connected to the center section, a pair of laterally extending rollers at the free end of the foot section engaging the rail channels, and means for releasably securing the spring sections in selectively adjusted position.

3. In a bed having ide rails, said rails being provided with parallel flanges disposed to form a channel at the foot end of each rail, 9. head spring section having its intermediate side portions pivotally connected to the head ends of the rails for vertical swinging adjustment, a center spring section pivotally connected to the head section, a pair of laterally disposed rollers at the opposed side of the center section intermediate its ends, said rollers rotatably engaging the channels in the rails, a foot spring section pivotally connected to the center section, a pair of laterally extending rollers at the tree end of the foot section engaging the rail channels, and fastening means carried by the head spring section cooperative with'means on the head rail sections for releasably fastening the spring sections in adjusted arrangement.

FRANK F. WAHL. 

